Elden Ramirez has accepted the invitation of the Montana Conference board of directors to serve as conference president. Ramirez, who has directed the North American Division (NAD) Office of Volunteer Services since 2013, plans to meet soon with Montana Conference workers and hopes to make a full transition with his family as quickly as possible.

“My family and I are excited to embark on this new journey with the Lord. We’re looking forward to seeing God’s mighty work,” he adds.

Ramirez began his full-time ministry for the Seventh-day Adventist Church in 1996, working for eight years in Iowa-Missouri Conference as academy chaplain, pastor, church planter, youth camp director, youth and family life director, among other responsibilities. He spent eight more years as youth director and executive camp director with the Central California Conference prior to taking on his most recent role at the NAD.

He is fluent in English, Portuguese and Spanish. He is a published author, has hosted and produced radio and television programs, and is a dedicated team builder for the mission of the church.

Before beginning his formal role with the church, Ramirez worked to stop violence among city gangs as a youth civic leader in San Francisco, Calif. He provided additional guidance for young drug addicts and was instrumental in multi-service educational and recreational programs for at-risk students. While there, he recognized that his efforts for good would be worthless unless he didn’t help people ultimately meet Jesus. This led him to complete a degree in theology and accept the call to gospel ministry in 1996.

And now it leads him and his wife, Jenny, to, in his words, “graciously accept the honor to serve our brothers and sisters in Montana.”

Elden and Jenny have two daughters, Elennie and Jasmine, ready to respectively tackle 11th and 8th grades. Jenny is a registered nurse.

“We are grateful for the Lord’s leading and in answering our prayers for a president in the Montana Conference,” says John Freedman, North Pacific Union Conference president. “Please continue to pray for the anointing of the Holy Spirit upon Elden. Pray also for his family as they prepare to move from Maryland to Montana.”

—Steve Vistaunet is assistant to the president for Communication for the North Pacific Union and editor of the Gleaner; this article was originally published by the Gleaner.